Who doesn’t love to escape from reality? Increasingly, over the last decade and change, television viewers escape their own realities by watching other people’s. Unscripted reality television programs have grown from a handful of shows in 2000 to around 320 programs in 2010. Reality television isn’t new – shows that featured real people and real reactions are a long-time staple, and pioneer Candid Camera has been around for 65 years. But the growth in reality television programming has some researchers concerned about the impact reality TV has on the American viewing audience, from claims that it encourages narcissism to concerns that it glorifies bullying. Read more →